The Team Behind Star Course
Founder-led. Advisor Supported. Backed by long-term capital.
Star Course Team - Founder-led. Advisor Supported. Backed by long-term capital.
Star Course is led by founder Nate Schwartzbauer and supported by a council of trusted advisors and equity partners — accomplished leaders in M&A and business operations, healthcare, e-commerce, wealth management, academia, and military command. This collective experience guides Star Course’s mission of acquiring, operating, and growing a single great business for the long term.
Advisory Council & Equity Support:
Nate Schwartzbauer: Founder, lead entrepreneur. Former Special Forces commander and Green Beret. Click for Nate’s full background below.
A former partner and 20-year veteran of the Carlyle Group; current partner and investment committee chair of a Charlotte-based lower middle market buyout firm.
A CEO of a leading national in-home healthcare provider with 2,000 employees headquartered in North Carolina; highly regarded acquisition entrepreneur and investor.
A founder and CEO of a bootstrapped, nine-figure, e-commerce company business based in North Carolina recently acquired by a publicly traded, globally recognized company.
An educator at Duke University within their Innovation & Entrepreneurship program; former senior investment banker.
An Executive Director and senior wealth manager at J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank in Charlotte.
A pair of acquisition entrepreneurs and current operators of the Carolinas' largest provider of commercial driver’s license certification programs.
Other Support & Financial Partners:
These trusted partners, among others, help provide the financial strength and flexibility needed to execute a wide variety of deal structures.
Transaction Deal Team:
Star Course has assembled a team of specialized service partners across all M&A disciplines, ensuring a seamless and professional transaction experience for every stakeholder. This expert collaboration enables us to navigate any transaction efficiently, providing clarity and support throughout the entire process.
Financial Strength and Flexibility:
In addition to equity support, Star Course is backed by strong relationships with multiple reputable lenders. This diverse financing foundation allows us to approach any acquisition with confidence and flexibility, benefiting all participants in the transaction.
Nate Schwartzbauer - Lead Entrepreneur
Founder
Nate grew up with a strong work ethic, a willingness to get his hands dirty, and a deep sense of patriotism. After 9/11, he attended West Point out a sense of duty to serve as an Army officer. Nate served as an infantryman and Green Beret commander for over nine years, leading diverse teams on four continents and from eight nations. He commanded platoons of over forty soldiers and later led a Special Forces detachment and a task force of 800 Afghan commandos while deployed in Afghanistan.
Through these experiences, Nate developed the skills and mindset to solve complex problems, lead large organizations, and build resilient teams. He learned the importance of servant leadership, discipline, and the value of teamwork in both good times and challenging situations.
Growing up, 2006
Nate earned two graduate degrees from Duke University, an MBA and Master of Public Policy, while studying entrepreneurship and economic development. During this time, he came to appreciate the essential role of small businesses in driving future American prosperity and improving quality of life. His patriotism and aspirations focused on small business entrepreneurship, where he saw the opportunity to apply his leadership experiences to lead a strong local company into its next chapter.
Nate deepened his operational experience by running an occupational health subsidiary of Charlotte-based transportation company before founding Star Course.
Afghanistan Service
Nate and his wife Paige reside in Charlotte, NC. He assists local high school students in the area preparing their applications for West Point. Nate enjoys the outdoors and travelling with his wife during his free time. His new pursuit is flying and aviation.
